In Remembrance

Edward A. Pocrnich, 79, of Silver Bay, MN, died of natural causes on September 12, 2018, surrounded by his family. He was born June 19, 1939, in Cook, MN to Croatian immigrant parents Anton and Manda (Lekatz) Pocrnich and was proud of his ability to speak Croatian quite fluently. Ed grew up on a farm adjacent to the town of Orr.

He was a 1957 graduate of Orr High School, Virginia Junior College in 1959 and UMD in 1961 with a degree in elementary education. In 1966 he received his Master’s Degree in Elementary School Administration from Bemidji State University and continued his education at UWS.

Ed began his teaching career at the Mary MacDonald School in Silver Bay in 1961. In 1969 he was named principal at the Campton Elementary School (currently Minnesota Veterans Home). He taught for ten years and served as principal for nearly 30 years in schools in the Lake Superior School District. He was a member of the Northeast Elementary School Principal’s Assn. as well as the Minnesota Elementary School Principal’s Assn. He was president of the NEMPA and served on the Board of Directors of MESPA.

Within the past two years Ed made two trips to Croatia with family members and visited the home towns of his mother and father as well as the capitol, Zagreb and cities along the Adriatic coast.

Ed was preceded in death by; his parents; brother Mike, sisters Lucy Vukelich, Mary Chevalier; and niece Janet (Dolly) Martin.

He is survived by; long time companion Beverly Edman; sons Stephen (Amber), David (Amy), Mike (Jessica), Beverly’s sons Ryan (Evelyn) Edman, Justin (Leta) Edman; grandchildren Gary, Noah, Abby, Anna, William, Isaac, and nieces Mary Lou (Lulu) Fry, Eileen Goode, nephews Tony Vukelich, Tony Chevalier and Martin Chevalier.

At his request there will be no funeral service. A gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date.